How the Royal Family Stays Fit and Healthy

Ever noticed that most of the members of the British royal family are in impeccable shape? Princes William and Harry are in good shape. The Duchess of Cambridge’s physique is the envy of women across the globe. And Queen Elizabeth, well — she hasn’t lived over 90 years by being unhealthy. So how does the royal family stay so fit and healthy? We take a look at their diet and exercise habits.

The princes dig polo

Both Prince William and Prince Harry are avid sports spectators, but they also enjoy partaking in athletic activities. Prince William played water polo in college, and even competed for St. Andrews. He and his brother hop on horses and play polo for charity every during the summer at Cirencester Park Polo Club in Gloucestershire. Polo is just one of the many activities the brothers engage in as a family. (More on that in just a bit.)

There are Olympians in the family

The Princess Royal was on the equestrian team in 1976. | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The royals are quite the equestrian group. So much so that they have represented the U.K. on sport’s largest stage. Queen Elizabeth’s daughter, Princess Anne, competed on the equestrian team in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. William and Harry’s fit cousin Zara Phillips is one of the premiere equestrians in the country, and competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Zara took home a silver medal.

The queen’s daily food menu

Queen Elizabeth isn’t a huge foodie. | Sharon Smith/AFP/Getty Images

A common misconception about Queen Elizabeth is that she dines lavishly every day of the year. But, as Today.com reveals, the 91-year-old monarch merely “eats to live” and doesn’t fuss much over food. (Her husband Prince Phillip, on the other hand, is a huge foodie.) The queen sticks to lean protein, a couple servings of veggies, and plenty of tea throughout the day. Her one regular indulgence? A midday gin cocktail.

Kate Middleton’s fitness secret

Royal watchers have been obsessed with Kate’s slim physique since before she became the Duchess of Cambridge. Her secret to maintaining a trim figure is mixing up her workouts, which consist of yoga, running, and hitting the rowing machine. She is also reportedly very athletic, and willing to try any new and all activities.

Processed foods are a no-no

Processed food has no place in the royal diet. | Photo by Patrick Riviere/Getty Images)

Between family hunting trips and summer cottages with vegetable gardens, the royals have all the means to eat healthy and make their own fare. Former royal chef Carolyn Robb, who cooked for Prince Charles and Princess Diana, says the meals she prepared were healthy and homegrown — not decadent or processed. “It was a healthy diet in terms of everything being homemade,” she says. “Both (Prince Charles) and Princess Diana had a really healthy diet.”

The family that eats together …

It isn’t just Charles and Diana that ate well. The entire royal firm eats good food, with a lot of homegrown ingredients. You also won’t see them stuffing themselves. Per royal rules, everyone is done eating when the queen is done — whether you have cleaned your plate or not. And since the queen isn’t a big eater, that means nobody in the family end up pigging out.

… and plays together

No one is sitting around all day. | Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images

The royal family is an active one. From the queen taking her dogs on many walks to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge going on ski vacations in the winter. It’s no wonder the entire family is in such good shape — nobody lounges around watching TV all day!